Plans to fine people who drop litter on Plymouth's streets and don't clear up after their dog are being hauled in for questioning.

Plymouth Labour councillors are bringing before a scrutiny panel the decision by council chiefs to push forward with the crackdown - which is expected to materialise in the new year.

Ether council staff or a private enforcement firm are to be tasked with scouring neighbourhoods and issue fines to people who are found dropping litter, fly-tipping or slapping club promotional material on lampposts. It's unknown at this stage what direction is to be taken as the business case has been kept under wraps by the council.

The crackdown follows a stream of complaints from households, the council has said, about the state of Plymouth streets.

But Labour's Jonny Morris, Sue Dann and Peter Smith have complained that Tory council bosses failed to explore other options when considering how best to improve the look of Plymouth and act against those persistently drop litter.

The council wants to get tough on people who make Plymouth look filthy (Image: Paul Slater)

So a scrutiny panel will meet at 2pm today to decide whether the whole strategy needs to be looked at again.

In a report going before the scrutiny committee, sceptics say there 'is no indication of the impact outsourcing this work will have on the current staff engaged in activities in this area, or the future of the rest of the service.'

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They add: "There are other courses of action not considered by the report. For instance, the decision is offered as a choice of either in-house or private provision, with no consideration given to other models like CaterEd."

CaterEd is a school meals service which, Cllr Morris said, works in partnership with the council and a similar approach could be taken with a provider to tackling litter enforcement.

Plymouth and litter: The background

A huge pile of rubbish found dumped in Plymouth during a University of Plymouth litter pick

The move comes after businessman Paul Buttivant - owner of private environment enforcement firm 3GS and the man who tried to buy Argyle in 2011 - declined to say whether his patrol teams were in the running to scoop up the job.

Mr Buttivant previously told The Herald that his firm - which works on behalf of councils across the country and locally for Torbay - issue penalty notices of up to £100 to those who drop fag packets, empty crisp bags and dog poo bags.

They also call in the police if culprits fail to hand over their name and address.

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The aim, the council says, is to ensure that Plymouth is a 'green and pleasant city.'

Unveiling the action plan at a meeting of the council's ruling Tory cabinet in November, safer and stronger communities official Councillor David Downie said: "We pride ourselves on being a listening council here, but there's no point in listening unless we actually act.

Paul Buttivant has a history with Plymouth - as he tried buying Argyle in 2011

"So residents have told us they are very concerned at the inconsiderate behaviour of some people littering in the city centre, and obviously our suburbs as well.

"Therefore, having heard this issue identified by residents, and yourselves as a responsible authority, now is the time to act, so we are committed to keeping Plymouth clean by tackling the scourge of not only littering, but fly-posting, fly-tipping, and by challenging those who allow their dogs to foul green spaces and streets."